Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker named to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement
Kemba Walker will represent the Charlotte Hornets during All-Star Weekend as he was finally selected to the All-Star Game as an injury replacement.
The NBA has announced that Kemba Walker will replace the injured Kristaps Porzingis in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. The Charlotte Hornets‘ point guard finally gets the nod after being passed over on three separate occasions. Most felt like he was the most egregious snub in the Eastern Conference.
It’s unfortunate that it took three players getting injured in the East for Kemba to make it but how the situation ended up playing out. After not being named to the first 12 all-star spots, Andre Drummond was named as an injury replacement for John Wall. Then, Goran Dragic was picked to replace the injured Kevin Love.
Walker finally got his name called after the New York Knicks‘ big man went down for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. This will be Kemba’s second straight All-Star appearance after not making it during the first five seasons of his career. He joins Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning and Glen Rice as the only other Hornets’ players to be selected for the All-Star Game more than once.
More from Swarm and Sting
- Hornets: Where does Brandon Miller’s ceiling rank among other rookies?
- Charlotte Hornets grade out mostly average in position-by-position ranking
- Hornets News: P.J. Washington makes bold statement on Brandon Miller
- Grade the mock trade: Hornets snag Tyler Herro, flip Gordon Hayward
- Will the Charlotte Hornets be in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery?
On multiple occasions, Kemba said that he would accept an invitation to the ASG if he was selected as an injury replacement. After being named, Walker said that “It’s surreal. It’s my second one. I’m just very fortunate, very blessed… [Last year], the experience was nothing short of amazing. I was in awe the entire time I was there.” (Twitter/ @Hornets)
So far this season, the 27-year old is averaging 23 points per game, 5.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 42.6% from the field, 37.1% from three and 85% from the free throw line. Not only does he lead the Hornets in scoring but he also leads them assists, steals, field goals made, three’s made and free throws made.
Despite him carrying the team, Charlotte’s been below .500 for most of the season which is probably why Kemba was originally overlooked as a reserve. Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lin and a number of other players and teammates congratulated Walker on his ASG selection.
Next: Rumor: Hornets interested in Mitch Kupchak
The 2018 NBA All-Star Game will take place in Los Angeles this season on February 18th Kemba Walker will be the only player from the Charlotte Hornets to compete during All-Star Weekend which is starts on February 16th.